Friday, August 23, 2013

WHY BENEDICT RESIGNED AS POPE

EX-POPE BENEDICT SAYS “GOD TOLD ME” TO RESIGN

Vatican City (Reuters) - Former Pope Benedict has said he resigned after “God told me to” during what he called a “mystical experience,” a Catholic news agency reported. Benedict, whose formal title is now Pope Emeritus, announced his shock resignation on February 11 and on February 28 became the first pontiff to step down in 600 years. “God told me to do it,” the Zenith agency quoted Benedict as saying to a visitor to the convent in the Vatican gardens where he is living out his retirement in near isolation. According to the agency, Benedict explained that God did not speak to him in a vision but in what the former pope called “a mystical experience.”According to Italian media, Benedict's decision to step down was influenced by the various scandals that blighted his eight-year papacy, including the arrest of his personal butler for leaking private documents alleging corruption in the Vatican. He was succeeded by Pope Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, who was elected as the first non-European pontiff in 1,300 years. According to the Rome-based Zenith, Benedict told his visitor that the more he observes the way Francis carries out his papal duties, the more he realized the choice was “wanted by God.” There had been media reports that since his resignation, Benedict's health had deteriorated dramatically.

The 86-year-old Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI has been living at the Vatican since he resigned Feb. 28, beginning an unprecedented era for the Catholic Church of having a retired pontiff living alongside a reigning one. Months ago, Benedict's decision of resign from his position was heavily criticized. But Vaishnavas should not fall in this spirit of criticism. We have been taught that the dedicated preacher of the truth is the one who does not want to attract attention to himself as a great preacher or guru, but wants to remains as a loyal servant of Godhead. Sometimes, an empowered preacher performs misunderstood actions under unprecedented circumstances. We should always, and especially under circumstances not entirely clear, avoid the demoniac temptation to criticize or speak with suspicion on the actions taken by someone who has devoted his life to preaching or study the Holy Scriptures, no matter what his religion is. We must avoid the criticism and suspicion towards others and be more attentive and more demanding with our own spiritual practice or personal sadhana. (Editor's note).

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

We are Srila Prabhupada's representatives and in this day and age there is so much misunderstanding amongst the Vaishnavas. There is so much criticism, most of it is properly due because of improprieties, misunderstanding and appasiddhanta - so many things are there. And it is very easy to criticize, so easy, all too easy to find fault. So, the one message that I would like to give you today is: What service are you doing to please Srila Prabhupada? What will you do to show your love, your gratitude? What service are you doing? You have gotten so much, it is such a great thing that we have, so let us do something. And let us show the right standard. Rather than simply criticize, let us do the right thing. Let us show the proper behavior of the Vaishnava and in that way we are truly glorifying Srila Prabhupada and our guru-parampara. Then we are truly disciples of Srila Prabhupada.